צער בעלי חיים Compassion towards animals – Examining an ancient Jewish value through a modern real life question: Should Zoos exist or not?

By: Mrs. Shosh Bernstein from Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School

Categories: Development of Critical and / or Creative Thinking, Real-World Learning

Subject(s) of entry: Gemara, Science, Tanach, Jewish Values

Pedagogy: PBL - project based learning, IBL - inquiry based learning

Grade(s) to which this was taught: 6th

Grade(s) for which this will be useful: 6, 7, 8, Middle school

Should Zoos exist or not? This was the question that led a Jewish Values course section that dealt with the value of "״צער חיים בעלי , Compassion towards Animals. Students were encouraged to dive into the subject searching for various pieces of evidence to support their claims and eventually present their argument in a "court".

Note: all attachments are products of students' work, except for the following: "Argument document", "Jewish texts" and "curriculum".